'Gravity' Screens At Toronto; Oscar Buzz Intensifies

Gravity premiered in Toronto on Sunday and critics are already predicting an Oscar nomination for winner, Sandra Bullock.

Directed by Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity is a film about two astronauts, Bullock and George Clooney, who get stranded in space, and has been making the rounds in the recent festival circuit. In fact, the film had its world premiere in late August at the Venice Film Festival.

Cuaron, known for his love of technology and long takes, is being credited with creating an entirely new film experience in Gravity. To shoot the film, Cuaron built new technology to suspend his actors and the camera to give the illusion of a zero gravity environment.

“While Gravity is hardly the first film to send characters into orbit, few have so powerfully and subjectively evoked the sensation of floating right there with them. As it glides nimbly around the action, the camera induces a deeply pleasurable feeling of weightlessness… that can suddenly turn from exhilarating to terrifying, leaving us gasping for oxygen alongside the characters,” writes Variety film critic Justin Chang.

The film is believed to be a slam-dunk this awards season to be nominated in cinematography, editing, visual effects and also best actress.

“I would frankly be shocked if the film isn’t nominated for Oscars for best picture, best director, best actress (Bullock), best original screenplay, best cinematography, best film editing, best sound editing, best sound mixing and best visual effects,” writes Scott Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter.

Anthony Breznican of Entertainment Weekly agrees, writing, “Expect Gravity to be a major player at the Academy Awards this year in all the top categories. It should easily win in the visual effects category, and will be a heavy-duty competitor in the others. Bullock is also a near certain Best Actress nominee.”

After the TIFF screening, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who was in the audience, praised the film and declared his love of Gravity’s leading lady. “And if I ever fly in space again, I want to fly with Sandra,” Hadfield told audiences at TIFF.

Hadfield also tweeted about the experience, gushing about the film, writing, “Fantastic visuals, relentless, Sandra Bullock was great.”

Gravity will open in the U.S. on Oct. 4.

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong

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